Chuang Cheng, Hui Zhang, Hui Peng, Zhiqian Zhou, Bailiang Chen, Zhiwen Zeng and Huimin Lu
When the mobile manipulator is traveling on an unconstructed terrain, the external disturbance is generated. The load on the end of the mobile manipulator will be affected…
Abstract
Purpose
When the mobile manipulator is traveling on an unconstructed terrain, the external disturbance is generated. The load on the end of the mobile manipulator will be affected strictly by the disturbance. The purpose of this paper is to reject the disturbance and keep the end effector in a stable pose all the time, a control method is proposed for the onboard manipulator.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the kinematics and dynamics models of the end pose stability control system for the tracked robot are built. Through the guidance of this model information, the control framework based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) is designed, which keeps the attitude of the end of the manipulator stable in the pitch, roll and yaw direction. Meanwhile, the control algorithm is operated with cloud computing because the research object, the rescue robot, aims to be lightweight and execute work with remote manipulation.
Findings
The challenging simulation experiments demonstrate that the methodology can achieve valid stability control performance in the challenging terrain road in terms of robustness and real-time.
Originality/value
This research facilitates the stable posture control of the end-effector of the mobile manipulator and maintains it in a suitable stable operating environment. The entire system can normally work even in dynamic disturbance scenarios and uncertain nonlinear modeling. Furthermore, an example is given to guide the parameter tuning of ADRC by using model information and estimate the unknown internal modeling uncertainty, which is difficult to be modeled or identified.
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China’s healthcare system is being burdened by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the health service requirements of mobile health…
Abstract
Purpose
China’s healthcare system is being burdened by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the health service requirements of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) users in Hangzhou, China. This study aimed to propose suggestions and theoretical references to improve mHealth apps and promote their development, thereby meeting public medical and health needs and creating an efficient medical service system.
Design/methodology/approach
We constructed a model of health service demands using a literature review, network survey, and semi-structured interviews. We analyzed the demand attributes using the Kano model and Better-Worse index and obtained the priority ranking of demands.
Findings
The results revealed 25 demand elements in four dimensions: must-be (M), one-dimensional (O), attractive (A), and indifferent (I) requirements. The findings suggest that mHealth app developers can optimize health services by categorizing and managing health services, focusing on middle-aged users, enhancing the professionalism of health service providers, and improving the feedback mechanism.
Originality/value
Studies on mHealth apps user demands, particularly on health service needs, remain scarce. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, to establish a priority ranking of user health service needs for mHealth apps. The study offers recommendations and theoretical references to optimize and improve mHealth app services.
Highlights
Construct a better health service requirements model for mHealth app users.
Obtain the prioritization of demand elements in the model.
Propose some management suggestions to improve mHealth apps.
Construct a better health service requirements model for mHealth app users.
Obtain the prioritization of demand elements in the model.
Propose some management suggestions to improve mHealth apps.
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Yi Zhong, Zhiqian Chen, Jinglei Ye and Na Zhang
This study aims to investigate the critical success factors of digital transformation in the construction industry and identify whether the respondents' profiles influence their…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the critical success factors of digital transformation in the construction industry and identify whether the respondents' profiles influence their perceptions of critical success factors for digital transformation.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the objectives, a literature review was first conducted based on technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework. Then a questionnaire survey was carried out. A total of 86 people were surveyed in this study, mainly from the construction industry. At the level of data processing, SPSS was used for analysis. Among the main tests used were the Shapiro–Wilk test, reliability analysis, mean rank analysis, Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test.
Findings
The study identified 15 critical success factors of digital transformation and found the three most important factors of digital transformation. Furthermore, respondents with different years of experience, enterprises with different sizes and different years made no difference in the perception of factors. Respondents' different occupations and types of enterprises created a bias in the perception of factors for digital transformation.
Research limitations/implications
Firstly, the small sample size of the questionnaire limits the reference value of data analysis for certain groups. In addition, this study focuses broadly on construction enterprises without specifically examining different types of enterprises, thus lacking depth in its findings.
Practical implications
This study establishes a connection between TOE theory and the construction industry through an extensive literature review, identifying relevant factors and providing a reference for future research.
Originality/value
The study's results would enrich the research on digital transformation in the construction industry and provide a reference for the digital transformation of construction enterprises.
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This paper studies the determinants for the desirability of the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in infrastructure development.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper studies the determinants for the desirability of the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in infrastructure development.
Design/methodology/approach
The author manually collects data on over 12,000 PPP projects in China, and regard the successful transition and abnormal termination as signals for the mode’s desirability and undesirability, respectively. Then, guided by relevant theories in the literature, the author investigates the impact of various project characteristics on the projects’ successful transition and abnormal termination.
Findings
First, execution-stage projects in industries where government support is indispensable, or where quality improvement is more important than cost reduction, face higher likelihood of abnormal termination. But such negative effects are mitigated if state-owned enterprises (SOEs) participate in the social party. Second, the structure of social party matters. The participation by private firms in the social party increases the termination likelihood, while the decentralization of the social party decreases it. Third, pre-execution projects with government payment or subsidies are more likely to enter into the execution stage.
Practical implications
Regulations on participation by SOEs in PPPs, such as policy [2023 No. 115] announced by State Council, should take industrial heterogeneity into consideration.
Originality/value
Using a large sample, the author empirically tests the seminal PPP-related theories in the literature. The author also uncovers some unique stylized facts about PPPs in China, especially the impact of SOE participation in the social party on PPP survival.
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One of the standard practices of Communist Parties around the world is to employ art, including music, as a channel to spread political ideologies. This study aims to scrutinize…
Abstract
Purpose
One of the standard practices of Communist Parties around the world is to employ art, including music, as a channel to spread political ideologies. This study aims to scrutinize the reception of Beethoven's music, particularly from a political viewpoint, by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the People's Republic of China (PRC) during the early years of its rule, i.e. from 1949–1959. The ambiguity of Beethoven's own political outlook may have provided an opportunity for the CCP to choose the composer and his music in support of its aims.
Design/methodology/approach
To understand why and how the CCP could exploit Beethoven and his music to support its political ideologies, a series of Chinese writings on Beethoven between 1949 and 1959 have been studied. Those literatures not only helped the composer gain reputation and popularity in the PRC, but also provided a platform for the CCP to manipulate such candidate and his music. Finally, the reception of the performances of the Ninth Symphony in 1959 in the PRC is singled out for close examination.
Findings
During the first ten years of the establishment of the PRC, the quantity and quality of the articles on Beethoven expanded considerably. These writings continued to reflect the reception of Beethoven and his music with the addition of political nuances that could be interpreted in the CCP's favour.
Originality/value
This paper seeks to examine the PRC's artistic policies, with a particular emphasis on the reception of Beethoven and western classical music.
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Qiang Li, Jiahuan Du, Xugang Zhang, Chuanli Qin, Zheng Jin and Xuduo Bai
The purpose of this paper is to develop porous nitrogen-enriched carbon (NC-U) with high nitrogen concentration and high specific capacitance (Cpe) as the electrode material for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop porous nitrogen-enriched carbon (NC-U) with high nitrogen concentration and high specific capacitance (Cpe) as the electrode material for supercapacitors.
Design/methodology/approach
NC-U was obtained by carbonization of polyvinylpyrrolidone/melamine formaldehyde resin (PVP/MF) with different contents of urea. In comparison, NC-K was also prepared by the KOH activation method. A series of asymmetric supercapacitors with NC as a negative electrode was assembled. The composition, microstructure and electrochemical properties of NC and their supercapacitors were studied.
Findings
The results show that NC-U shows irregular particles with a porous honeycomb structure. High Cpe was obtained for urea-treated NC-U because of the improvement of nitrogen, conductivity and specific surface area (S BET). NC-U50 with 13.15 per cent at nitrogen has the highest Cpe of 148.53 F/g because of the highest concentration of N-6 and N-5. NC-K with higher S BET has lower Cpe than NC-U50 because of its lower nitrogen concentration. When the specific power of the supercapacitor with NC-U50 as a negative electrode is 1,565.56 W/kg, its specific energy is still 4.35 Wh/kg. There is only 5.9 per cent decay in Cpe over 1,000 cycles.
Research limitations/implications
NC-U is a suitable electrode material for supercapacitors, which can be used in the field of electric vehicles to solve the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollutions.
Originality/value
Porous NC-U based on PVP/MF/urea composites with high nitrogen concentration and Cpe is novel, and it owns good electrochemical properties.